Question

If you were unregenerated and in Sodom what would you have done different?

Answer

Depraved man without Christ does not seek and cannot seek Christ (Rom. 8:5-8; 1 Cor 2:14, 2 Cor 4:4, etc). Unless regenerated by the Spirit man cannot see or enter the kingdom of heaven (John 3:3, 5). Thus, unfortunately, nothing different would have happened.

However, Jesus did say if the miracles he did had happened in Sodom and Tyre, etc. then they would have repented (Matt. 11:20-24; Luke 10:13). However, seeing God choose not to do certain miracles which would have led these sinners there to repentance, he must have ordained their destruction (John 3:18; Rom 9; cf. Prov 16:4); they having not been written in the Lamb's Book of Life from the foundation of the world (Rev. 13:8).

These vessels of common use (Rom. 9:21) were given in exchange (Isa. 43:4; Prov 21:18; cf. Prov. 11:8) - as an example (1 Cor. 10:6, 11) - for the vessels of honorable use (Rom. 9:21). If not for God's election before the foundation of the world "we would have been like Sodom and become like Gomorrah" (Rom. 9:29; Isa. 1:9-10). See What is Reprobation?

Answer by Dr. Joseph R. Nally, Jr.

Dr. Joseph R. Nally, Jr., D.D., M.Div. is the Theological Editor at Third Millennium Ministries (Thirdmill).